Client:
Smiths Detection
Location:
Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
Job Category:
Finance
EU work permit required:
Yes
Job Reference:
970a5894ee36
Job Views:
8
Posted:
02.03.2025
Expiry Date:
16.04.2025
Job Description:
The Financial Controller Northwest Europe is the top finance role in the £100M NW Europe (UK, Ireland & Israel) region of the Smiths Detection global business and a key member of the Northwest Europe leadership team, reporting to the Finance Director, Global Financial Services (Division) along with business partnering with the Northwest Europe Market Head. The region is trail-blazing with significant contracts for UK MOD, Israeli government and many of the major UK & Ireland airports. The business is both a sales & service hub and also a technology development centre and manufacturer of certain Detection products.
The primary task is to have full financial responsibility by overseeing all financial planning and analysis activities, maintaining strong Internal Controls and being an enabler and advisor to add insight, challenge and help shape the business. The Financial Controller is the lead finance business partner for the region’s commercial team, with ownership for financial reporting, financial analysis, business insight and strategic planning. This will include driving the strategic plan, rolling forecast and annual budget preparation, as well as supporting the team with major bids and program & service contracts. The role is also responsible for financial and other assessments of capital expenditure and investment proposals.
The role has complete responsibility for the financial stewardship of the accounting & financial operations for the region. This includes production of the financial reports, maintenance of the accounting records, controls and budgets in order to ensure that the reported results comply with company policies and international financial reporting standards.
The role will be a member of the Hemel Leadership Team (HLT) with accountability for local site- and employee-engagement activities, and should also act as a role model to their finance team by exemplifying high motivation and standards, collaboration, and being an agent for positive change. A key focus will be developing and growing the diverse talent in the finance team.
Duties:
Financial leadership
* Member of the Detection Northwest Europe Senior Leadership Team and responsible for Detection Northwest Europe financial leadership.
* Communicate and present financial results and plans to Smiths Detection management and other stakeholders, conducting Commercial / Market Review on a monthly basis.
* Provide financial leadership to NW Europe reporting on order intake, revenue, profitability & cash – both the historic & forecast position, ensuring finance is represented appropriately on all key project boards and decision-making panels.
Finance Stewardship and Team Management
* Drive financial priorities on working capital, pricing or margin improvement and cost-saving targets, ensuring the senior management team are provided with quality navigation, forecasting and business planning information that focuses decision making to maximise profit and cash.
* Ensure that a robust internal control framework, consistent with Group policies, is in place for financial reporting and to protect company assets and Intellectual Property.
* Run the Detection Northwest Europe finance team and provide finance advisory services to Detection UK, Detection Ireland and Detection Israel, applying Smiths values and setting a tone of continuous improvement.
Business Partner
* Lead the financial value assessment and review of all commercial activities for the UK, Ireland & Israel region: bids, tenders, program & service contracts, execution and delivery to budget, deep dive management & operations reviews.
* Business Case responsibility for the verification of major capital expenditures requests, benefit assumptions and post-completion reviews.
* Contribute proactively and creatively to the development of business strategies, consistent with Smiths Detection objectives & strategy.
Accounting & Financial Operations
* Financial Reporting responsibility for timely & accurate month, interim and year-end close activities for each entity in the UK, Ireland & Israel region.
* Understand and explain results, produce management KPI reports and ensure required functions are provided with quality navigation, forecasting and business planning tools and procedures.
* Preparation and management of the entity planning and forecasting process and annual budgets.
Compliance and Process Improvement
* Drive process and system improvements and create a continuous improvement culture to aid transparency and decision-making.
* Responsibility for establishing, implementing, and maintaining financial reporting systems and processes to comply with local regulations and divisional policies.
* Ensure that there is an effective risk management process in place to mitigate key problems and issues.
Management within Global and Cross-Functional Team
* Audit: Primary responsibility for managing the UK, Ireland and Israel entities' relationship with external and internal auditors, and tax advisors.
* Treasury: manage portfolio of bank guarantees, hedging and basic cash management.
* Tax: Implement recommended tax structures including VAT and lntrastat reporting.
Qualifications
* Chartered Accountant with at least ten years of managerial experience and at least three years of experience in a similar role.
* Experience of working with Big 4 auditing firms advantageous.
* Strong technical financial accounting & reporting skills with specific focus on IFRS/FRS compliance.
* Significant financial experience with accounting under complex arrangements.
* Experience working with an ERP (such as SAP) and a consolidation system such as Oracle or Hyperion Financial Management.
Additional Information
Join us and we’ll help build your career, with excellent training and opportunities for career growth across the business, both locally and globally. You’ll experience an inclusive environment, with strong leadership and a focus on safety and wellbeing. You’ll also have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of benefits to suit your lifestyle.
We believe that different perspectives and backgrounds are what make a company flourish. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, economic status, disability, age, or any other legally protected characteristics.
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